E7-25201. Self-Regulatory Organizations; International Securities Exchange, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change Relating to the Amendment of the Exchange's Amended and Restated Constitution  

  • Start Preamble December 20, 2007.

    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) [1] of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,[2] notice is hereby given that on December 10, 2007, the International Securities Exchange, LLC (“Exchange”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) the proposed rule change as described in Items I, II, and III below, which Items have been substantially prepared by the Exchange. The Exchange has designated the proposed rule change as one concerned solely with the administration of the Exchange pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Act,[3] and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) thereunder,[4] which renders the proposal effective upon filing with the Commission. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.

    I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange is proposing to amend its Amended and Restated Constitution. The text of the proposed rule change is available at the Exchange, the Commission's Public Reference Room, and on the Exchange's Internet Web site at http://www.ise.com.

    II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the Exchange included statements concerning the purpose of and basis for the proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared summaries, set forth in Sections A, B, and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

    A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    1. Purpose

    The purpose of this proposed rule change is to amend the Exchange's Constitution to make a clarifying change relating to the qualifications of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Exchange. Specifically, the Exchange previously amended its Constitution [5] to allow for the election of a Former Employee Director [6] , with the intention that such Former Employee Director, if appointed, would be eligible to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Exchange. However, in order to accomplish its intention, the Exchange must further amend the Constitution to explicitly Start Printed Page 73937provide that a Former Employee Director may become the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Exchange. This proposed rule change will not affect the prohibition on an “industry representative” becoming Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Exchange as currently provided under the Constitution.

    2. Statutory Basis

    The basis under the Act for this proposed rule change is the requirement under Section 6(b)(1) [7] that an exchange be so organized and to have the capacity to be able to carry out the purposes of the Act and to comply, and (subject to any rule or order of the Commission pursuant to Section 17(d) [8] or 19(g)(2) of the Act [9] ) to enforce compliance by its members and persons associated with its members, with the provisions of the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder and the rules of the exchange. The Exchange also believes this proposed rule change furthers the objective of Section 6(b)(5) [10] that an exchange have rules that, among other things, are designed to remove impediments to and perfect the mechanism for a free and open market and a national market system, and, in general, to protect investors and the public interest.

    B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed Rule Change Received From Members, Participants or Others

    The Exchange has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments on this proposed rule change. The Exchange has not received any unsolicited written comments from members or other interested parties.

    III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for Commission Action

    The foregoing proposed rule change is effective upon filing pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)(iii) [11] of the Act and Rule 19b-4(f)(3) [12] thereunder because it was designated by the Exchange as concerned solely with the administration of the Exchange. At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule change, the Commission may summarily abrogate such rule change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

    IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

    Electronic Comments

    Paper Comments

    • Send paper comments in triplicate to Nancy M. Morris, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-ISE-2007-117. This file number should be included on the subject line if e-mail is used. To help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently, please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/​rules/​sro/​shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for inspection and copying in the Commission's Public Reference Room on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such filing will also be available for inspection and copying at the principal office of the Exchange. All comments received will be posted without change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to make available publicly. All submissions should refer to File No. SR-ISE-2007-117 and should be submitted on or before January 18, 2008.

    Start Signature

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated authority.13

    Florence E. Harmon,

    Deputy Secretary.

    End Signature End Preamble

    Footnotes

    5.  Securities Exchange Act Release No. 56211 (August 6, 2007), 72 FR 45287 (August 13, 2007) (SR-ISE-2007-34).

    Back to Citation

    6.  Section 3.2(b)(vi) of the Constitution provides that “[t]he Sole LLC Member may, in its sole and absolute discretion, elect one (1) additional director who shall meet the requirements of “Non-Industry Directors,” except that such person was employed by the Exchange at any time during the three (3) year period prior to his or her initial election (the “Former Employee Director”).”

    Back to Citation

    [FR Doc. E7-25201 Filed 12-27-07; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 8011-01-P

Document Information

Comments Received:
0 Comments
Published:
12/28/2007
Department:
Securities and Exchange Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
E7-25201
Pages:
73936-73937 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Release No. 34-57015, File No. SR-ISE-2007-117
EOCitation:
of 2007-12-20
PDF File:
e7-25201.pdf